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Our Heritage

Chosen People Ministries is now 123 years old. We were founded by Rabbi Leopold Cohn who came from Hungary in 1892 to look for freedom and a safe place to raise his family because of the rampant antisemitism in most of Eastern Europe during those years.

To his great surprise, he heard a Jewish man preaching the Gospel at a church on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and accepted Jesus as his Messiah.

Rabbi Cohn then dedicated his life to proclaiming the Good News of the Messiah to his fellow Jewish people and began this work in Brooklyn.

Now, all these years later, our headquarters is in Manhattan, we have a beautiful new Messianic center in the heart of Orthodox Jewish Brooklyn, and we are serving the Jewish people in 20-plus North American cities and 17 countries around the globe.

A New Year Tradition

It was commonplace for Rabbi Cohn and Joseph, his son who followed him in leadership, to write a special letter every January to remind their partners of the importance of Jewish evangelism.

Oftentimes the articles were based upon Romans 1:16,

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

I would like to continue this tradition and share a few thoughts on this great passage of Scripture, to remind us in this new year of the imperative to preach the Gospel to the Jewish people.

Romans 1:16 for Today

The Greek word used by Paul and translated “first” is protos.¹ It implies a priority,² rather than a sequential order of events.³ The word is also used in Matthew 6:33 where the Lord Jesus reminds us to seek first the kingdom of God.

The kingdom of God should always be sought as a priority in our lives, even as we seek other things. In a similar way, reaching Jewish people with the Gospel must be a priority concern for all who know the Lord Jesus as their Savior.

Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, focused his ministry on reaching non-Jews with the Gospel message. But, this did not lessen his concern for the salvation of the Jewish people.

Wherever Paul went in his ministry among the Gentiles he also tried to preach the Gospel to the Jewish people living in that area (Acts 13:13-52; 14:1-7; 18:7-11; 19:8-10). He would regularly attempt to evangelize the Jewish people of a particular city before he spoke to the Gentiles.

The salvation of the Jewish people was an ever present concern for Paul and his actions in the Book of Acts reveal his understanding of what he wrote in Romans 1:16.⁴

The main reason Paul asks the Roman believers to prioritize preaching the Gospel among the Jewish people is because of what he tells them later on in Romans 11:25-27 regarding a future day when “all Israel will be saved.”

It is clear that the Apostle establishes a link between the second coming of Jesus and the salvation of the Jewish people (see also Acts 3:19-20). This is why, I believe, Paul asks the Church to make Jewish evangelism a priority.

What Now?

We cannot wait for what is prophesied when we already have a mandate to disciple all nations-—including the Jewish people.

As Paul wrote earlier in Romans 10,

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14)

We know the Gospel must be preached to Jewish people as some will come to faith today and others will have their hearts prepared for tomorrow.

The Jewish Evangelism Mandate for Gentiles

It is what the New Testament commands: the Apostle Paul envisions a special role for Gentile believers in presenting the Good News to the Jewish people. He writes,

I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. (Romans 11:11)

Considering this command…

• How is it possible that a local church could not be engaged in Jewish evangelism, praying for and supporting Jewish missions?

• How is it possible that our missions conferences do not include some type of emphasis on Jewish evangelism?

My dear brothers and sisters, though the Jewish population might be few, the salvation of Israel is still critical, since by reaching the remnant we are participating with God in accomplishing His plan for our world.

We do not want to do less to reach the nations of the world…we just want to do more to reach the Jewish people.

Yours in the Messiah,

Dr. Mitch Glaser
President of Chosen People Ministries

Shalom dear friends in the Messiah,

Maybe for you, September means the start of the school year — or the return to a busy schedule after a restful summer.

For Jewish people, the fall season usually means preparing for the High Holidays:

• The New Year (Rosh Hashanah), Sunday, Oct. 2nd – Tuesday, Oct. 4th — In general, even the most secular Jewish people will celebrate Rosh Hashanah (literally— the head of the year).
• The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), Tuesday, Oct. 11th – Wednesday, Oct. 12th — This is considered the holiest day of the Jewish calendar and will be observed in some way by nearly every Jewish person.
• The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), Sunday, Oct. 16th – Sunday, Oct. 23rd — Fewer Jewish people celebrate this feast, although after the seriousness of the first two, the Feast of Tabernacles is a lot of fun and known as a time of great rejoicing!

Understanding the Jewish High Holidays can be a great blessing for followers of Jesus!This is why Chosen People Ministries offers you some wonderful resources to help you better understand the holidays.

I encourage you to investigate these resources to help you better understand your Jewish heritage in the Messiah!

Learn More…

Another important aspect of your heritage as a follower of Messiah is the Temple of Jerusalem. You may recall from the Book of Ezekiel references to “the Shekinah glory” in the Temple.

The Temple was the heart and soul of the Jewish faith in biblical times — the place where sacrifices were made for the forgiveness of sin. Since the Temple’s destruction over 2,000 years ago, Jewish people have told many well-known stories of great rabbis who went to their deathbeds wondering whether or not their sins were forgiven.

This is the problem, of course, when there is no recognizable means or moment when one knows that their sins are forgiven. Jewish people live with ambiguity, not knowing if our good works and repentance are enough for God to forgive us of our sins.

Continue Reading…

Dear friends,

Shalom in the great name of Jesus the Messiah. On May 12 the Jerusalem sky will be lit with beautiful displays of fireworks and thousands of Israelis will be dancing in the streets!—in celebration of Israel’s 68th birthday.

The modern state of Israel is a great joy to those of us who love the Lord Jesus, believe the Bible and affirm God’s plan for the Jewish people.

Let’s face it—the existence of the modern state of Israel is a miracle! Yet, we know there is so much more to come as the Bible is filled with prophecies about Israel’s glorious future. I am sure you are looking forward to that great day when the Jewish people receive Jesus as their Messiah (Romans 11:11-25), and the Prince of Peace sits on His glorious and rightful throne in Jerusalem! Your generous gift today will help us continue to take the Good News of Messiah to Jewish people worldwide.

I believe this great day is coming!

Israel: Let Freedom…of Religion Ring

The modern state of Israel is a bastion of hope in the midst of a war-torn Middle East. Israel is a modern democratic nation that practices freedom of religion.

You have never heard of Israel persecuting Muslims, Christians or any other people of faith have you? There has been some discussion about Orthodox Jewish people persecuting Messianic Jews, but most of the reports you hear about the persecution of Messianic Jews in Israel are overplayed.

Let’s Celebrate!
I hope you will find a way to celebrate the 68th birthday of the nation of Israel! We have so many reasons to be thankful: the fulfillment of prophecy demonstrating that the Word of God is true and the fact that Western countries have a friend and ally in the Middle East that is both democratic and practices religious freedom.

Yet there are also hosts of social problems and challenges that face Israel today—just like any other country in the world. Israel is a divided society, and we need to pray every day for God’s peace to fall upon the Promised Land so that both Jews and Palestinians are able to live their lives and raise their children without worrying about their safety.

I believe that this is the dream of every Jewish and Palestinian mother!

We know that these issues will not be solved until Jesus reigns on His rightful throne. This is why it is so important to bring the Gospel to the Jewish people in Israel—and also to the many other groups that live within Israel.

The need is great, but the opportunity is greater.

Your Prayers Are Needed
First of all, may I ask you to pray for the work of Chosen People Ministries in Israel? Please pray for our growing staff. Also, our media evangelistic programs are changing lives! We have produced almost a dozen Messianic Jewish testimonies in Hebrew that are being watched by tens of thousands in Israel today. We now have between 50 and 100 Israelis asking for our Isaiah 53 Explained book in Hebrew each week. I never thought I would see this happen.

Would you honor the 68th birthday of Israel with a gift of $68?

Your gift of $68 or more allows us to:

• Send twelve Isaiah 53 Explained books to Israelis seeking the Lord
• Scholarship one child for almost a full week of camp
• Help us pay the rent on our Tel Aviv facility where our 100-plus-member congregation of Russian Jewish believers meet each week
• Help us run our Jerusalem Center, which is the national headquarters for our ministries throughout Israel

I hope you will be generous as wonderful opportunities for evangelism are increasing every day! In fact, our budget for the next fiscal year begins July 1 and calls for almost a half million dollars to maintain all of the programs, people, and facilities that Your Mission to the Jewish People supports in Israel.

Your generous investment in the spiritual future of Israel will make a big difference in the lives of everyday Israelis—because they need the Lord! Perhaps you would like to give a more substantial gift to help us support this growing work as we look forward to the great day of the Lord’s return. 

There’s just no place like Israel on planet Earth! Would you help me help our staff reach Israel for Jesus?

Happy 68th Birthday, Israel!

Your brother in the Messiah,

Mitch

Dear friend in the Messiah,

There is no doubt in my mind that the college campus is one of the best places there is to engage Jewish students with the Gospel. According to the recent Pew Report, 60% of the Jewish population in the United States are college graduates, which is twice the number of our general population.¹

We know that students are more open to new ideas as they are often away from their parents and other types of community support. Since Jewish young adults are generally taught not to believe in Jesus, this fresh openness to new viewpoints in general is a great time to introduce Jewish students to the Jewish Messiah.

We of course must be careful to be sensitive to the vulnerability of many young adults and respect the way they have been raised. We need to meet the students in the marketplace of ideas and make sure these Jewish students want to hear the Gospel. We need to offer the Good News and make Jesus so attractive that Jewish students will want to hear more and more!

We usually encourage campus evangelism to be primarily done student-to-student if possible, though of course, campus ministries, local churches and Messianic congregations near campuses can be supportive of believing students reaching out to Jewish young adults and provide wisdom, warm fellowship, a home-cooked meal and lots of love!

There are many challenges to reaching Jewish students on campus. Any significant effort will likely be opposed by the campus rabbi, Hillel (the largest national Jewish campus group) and an Orthodox (Chasidic) group called Chabad, which is active on many campuses.

Additionally, antisemitism is on the rise on many college campuses in the United States. More than 50% of Jewish college students said they have experienced some type of antisemitism during this past year.²

This is terrible, but it gives Christians the opportunity to show support and solidarity with the Jewish students, letting them know that true Christians love the Jewish people and oppose antisemitism. This is a great testimony to Jewish students.

Meanwhile, in spite of the challenges, our ministries on campus are going well. May I share some wonderful reports with you?

Michael Cohen, our Los Angeles director, writes,
Our ministry is now fully involved and has partners in outreach on three college campuses in the Los Angeles area. One of the keys to having a ministry to Jewish students on campus is to gather a group of volunteers! At Pierce College, in the very Jewish San Fernando Valley, I met a young student, a Jewish believer, who also comes out and witnesses with me. We also have great opportunities to share the Gospel with Jewish students from other countries.  At the University of Southern California, I spoke with a Jewish student from Australia. As we spoke, he shared that he was once Orthodox but is now more secular. I asked how that happened. He told me that over time he simply stopped participating in religious activity until he finally decided that he was no longer Orthodox. Interestingly, he also has some Messianic Jewish friends back in Australia. As I shared the Gospel with him, I told him that Jesus wanted to set him free and to give him the gift of new life. All of this was very appealing to him, as clearly he had been searching for God. Please pray for Jacob,* as I know that God wants him to know the truth. I have had the privilege recently to work with YWAM’s School of Prayer and Mission. For a week in November I helped equip a ten-person team on Jewish Evangelism and Apologetics, including hands-on training at Cal State Northridge. Together, we have shared the Gospel with many students on campus. Please pray for our continued partnership with them.

Ari Hauben, one of our new staff members serving in Philadelphia, describes the following:
Last week, I attended a citywide event in Philadelphia sponsored by one of the Christian student groups. The leaders of this group found out I was a Messianic Jew, working with Chosen People Ministries, and they were excited. I found out why when they introduced me to a very special female student! This young woman is a believer and is Jewish and both her parents are rabbis! She wanted to hear my testimony and had lots of questions about how my family responded when I told them I was a believer in Jesus. She told me she once tried explaining her faith in Jesus to her mom and that her mom started crying and was very upset. Her mom told her not to spend any more time with the Christian groups, which is a usual response because our Jewish parents view Jesus as a threat. She has not tried talking to her mom about Jesus since—and has never spoken to her dad.

She was especially interested in how I continue to identify as a Jew who believes in Yeshua and how I incorporate some Jewish practices, such as Passover, as part of my walk and identity with Jesus. I am looking forward to following up with her!

I am happy to say our work at New York City area campuses is going well. One of our most experienced campus representatives, Doug P., writes,
The Israel-Palestinian debate is a hot topic on campus and unfortunately questions about Israel are often combined with an underlying antisemitism that seems politically driven at first but is much more…and far more sinister! A recent experience at Columbia University highlights this concern and matter for prayer. One large man on occasion stands at the main gate of the school and holds up a large sign that reads “Divest Israel” and spews antisemitic remarks. Another student stopped by our campus literature table there last Wednesday to tell us that many students at Columbia are against Israel. 

So, you can see that this is a real problem. But God is still blessing!

Doug continues, 
An Israeli professor stopped by the table to say: “Keep up the important work!” and took a copy of the small prophecy booklet on Isaiah 53! Our work at Queens College continues unabated, giving out booklets and many cards for the new ifoundshalom.com website. One Israeli girl especially stands out in my mind as she argued that the idea of a Son of God is not a part of Jewish thinking. When I showed her Psalm 2:7-8 in Hebrew, which speaks about God’s Son, she was silent and told me she would have to look it up and study the text. She left me her email to contact her. We need and deeply appreciate your prayers for these many Jewish students who stop by our tables!

Immediately before the Jewish festival of Hanukkah I stopped by our Charles Feinberg Center in Brooklyn and spent some time with our younger missionaries who were about to go out to witness on the Brooklyn College campus. They decided to try a new strategy—a potato pancake (or latkes for all of you Jewish-cooking aficionados) giveaway! The team made 300 latkes and handed them out to students at one of the most Jewish schools in the country. They had more conversations than they could handle, and besides…it was lots of fun! We have an ongoing ministry at this school, which is barely a mile from our Brooklyn Center!

Most of all, I hope you will pray for Jewish students and encourage Christian young people to reach their Jewish friends. Perhaps your church has a student group and would like additional training in campus ministry among Jewish people. We would love to help.

May the Lord fill you with joy, vision and strength in the Holy Spirit!
Your brother,

Mitch Glaser

P.S. For your gift of $50 or more we will send you a copy of a terrific 100-page book on how to witness to college students!

1     http://www.pewforum.org/2013/10/01/chapter-2-intermarriage-and-other-demographics/
2     https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/02/24/bias-reported-survey-jewish-college-students

Mitch Glaser

The Key Players & the System

Today in Israel, twenty-six different parties are competing for 120 parliamentary seats. These parties represent the broadest spectrum of Israeli society from far-left to far-right. This is a very important election for Israel, as Netanyahu faces possible defeat, something that can be very dangerous for Israel and the free world. Dangerous because other PM’s might be more willing to accept a deal with Iran, a country whose leadership has openly called for the destruction of Israel, murder of Jews and the downfall America.

For Benjamin Netanyahu to win his party must win at least 3.25 percent, which equals 4 seats, in order to secure representation in the Knesset. Even then the parties that receive more than 3.25 percent of the vote are not guaranteed to win, as in Israel’s history no party has ever received an overall majority win. It is the best coalition that most likely ensures an overall win.

Israel is a parliamentary democracy, which means that the Israeli voter selects from amongst lists of parties and the leader of the party with the most Knesset (Parliament) seats becomes the Prime Minister. Also, the whole country of Israel is considered one constituency and the 120 Knesset seats are divided proportionately between the votes that each party wins.

Netanyahu faces Habayit Hayehudi (The Jewish Home) party which is led by Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, whose shares some views with the PM, but is running on a platform which emphasizes the economy and settlement issues. His biggest opponent is the Zionist Union, which is a collation party of the Labor party, one of the oldest parties in Israel, and a few newly formed parties (Yachad and Kulanu). Zionist Union’s platform is focused on addressing social and economic inequalities, as well as diplomatic and foreign policy issues. Other opponents include a Jewish non-Zionist party, an Arab majority party, a few more newly founded parties, some far-right religious parties and Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel is Our Home) comprised of immigrants from the former Soviet Union and led by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who leans heavily towards right-wing and nationalistic positions.

The Issues

Historically, Israel has a large voter turn-out. According to some sources, during the January 2013 election 68 percent of eligible voters went to the ballots. Israelis are engaged. This election has two main issues that the voters are asked to consider, and in turn that the Israeli voter is genuinely worried about. First is the security of the land – the platform of PM Netanyahu, and the second, the economy – the platform of his most viable opponents.

The high cost of living is a central issue for Israelis, especially as it continues to rise. Many claim that buying the basics is becoming difficult as housing prices soar. Netanyahu’s primary focus has been security and his opponents have used this opportunity to pledge to the Israelis that they will work on fixing the economic problems of the Land. For Netanyahu it is the existential threat posed by Iran that is of the utmost importance.

Israelis are somewhat torn. The younger generation wants a chance to succeed and provide for their families. Some in the older generation say, “What point is there in having a good job and a full fridge if you’re dead.”

What will it take to form a coalition?

Because no one party is expected to win a majority of seats in the 120-seat Knesset, the party that wins is the party that can put together a coalition with a majority of seats (at least 61). The two leading parties, Likud (Netanyahu) and the Zionist Union (Herzog and Livni) are neck and neck in the polls; each suspended in eagerness around 24 seats. The real question is: “Which one can form the winning coalition?”

Jerusalem Post reported:

An internal Likud poll has shown for the first time that a majority of Israelis do not believe that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will form the next government, a Likud source said Monday. On March 9, the Likud’s data showed that 62.3% thought that Netanyahu would form the coalition and 19.9 % thought that Zionist Union leaders Issac Herzog and Tzipi Livni would form the government. On Monday, for the first time, the number believing Netanyahu would form the government fell to 49.6 %, while 30.4 % thought Herzog would form the coalition. It marked the first time since the election campaign began that the number dipped below 50 percent. The polls are taken by McLaughlin and associates, the American Republican strategist working for the Netanyahu campaign.

The Foreign Policy Research Institute observes,

With a rightist government, Netanyahu should be able to get a core group of about 53 seats (highlighted in darker blue). As the numbers now stand, the Netanyahu-led coalition would fall just short of the 61 seats it needs should either Moshe Kahlon (Kulanu) or Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu) refuse to join a Netanyahu-led coalition, as each has threatened.

Netanyahu must work hard to garner votes, as his party is neck and neck with Likud, and be wise in who he sides with. In my opinion it would be wise to join forces with the Kulanu party (All of Us), led by former Likud member Moshe Kahlon. Kulanu is campaigning on promises of lowering the cost-of-living, bridging economic inequalities and fixing the housing crisis.

The Impact for the Gospel

Whoever the winner is, he or she will need to closely monitor Lebanon and Syria, and keep an eye on Hezbollah activities in the Syrian Golan Heights, as well as Hamas in Gaza and Fatah. Yakkov Lappin, writing for the Jerusalem Post observes,

By the time the results of the elections in Israel are clear, and the next ruling coalition emerges, Washington and Tehran might complete a deal that will leave Iran in possession of a large chunk of its uranium enrichment assets, all of its missiles, and all of its regional terrorist proxies and networks intact.

In the midst of all this upheaval and uncertainty, Israelis, especially secular Israelis, are not only responding to the Gospel, but asking for it. Our Tel Aviv based worker reported that many young secular Israelis are seeking out believers to discuss faith, God, and the Messiah Yeshua.

Please pray for the people of Israel and the work of Chosen People Ministries at this crucial time. Thank you.

David Roach, writing for the Baptist press, prepared an excellent article that is very appropriate for this first day of the Jewish festival of Purim. He elaborates on the parallels between the book of Esther, Netanyahu speech and the relationship of Iran (ancient Persia) today with the Jewish people in the modern state of Israel. Though I don’t do this often, I am including David’s article in full as it better articulates all I would have to say about this dire challenge that faces not only Israel, the entire world. a nuclear armed Iran is more frightening for the Jewish people and  our global community then an out of control Haman!!

Netanyahu: Iran’s threats parallel OT Esther story
by David Roach
Date: March 04, 2015 – Wednesday

WASHINGTON (BP) — A genocidal chapter in the ancient relationship between Israel and Iran could be the result of a nuclear agreement the United States may sign with Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a joint meeting of Congress March 3.

Threats by the modern Persian state of Iran to annihilate Jews, Netanyahu said, are frighteningly reminiscent of the murderous Old Testament plot hatched by the Persian viceroy Haman — whose plan to kill all Jews was foiled by the Persian queen Esther, a Jew, and recounted in the biblical book bearing her name.

Iran’s threats could translate into horrific violence if a nuclear deal reported widely in the media is signed, the prime minister said, noting that the day following his address, Jews would begin celebrating Purim, a feast commemorating their deliverance under Esther.

“Today the Jewish people face another attempt by yet another Persian potentate to destroy us. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei spews that oldest hatred of anti-Semitism with the newest technology,” Netanyahu said, lamenting that the “very talented” Iranian people were “hijacked” by the “religious zealots” of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Khamenei tweeted in November, “This barbaric, wolflike & infanticidal regime of #Israel which spares no crime has no cure but to be annihilated.” In a separate tweet, Khamenei said he was not suggesting “the massacre of the Jewish people,” but he advocated arming Muslims in the West Bank to fight Israel.

Netanyahu told Congress that striking a nuclear deal with Khamenei’s regime would not inspire Iran to decrease its aggression toward Israel and that the specific deal under consideration “would all but guarantee” that Iran obtains nuclear weapons — “lots of them.”

The nuclear deal being considered by Iran, the U.S. and five other nations would allow Iran to keep around 6,000 uranium enrichment centrifuges while limiting development of more efficient centrifuges. It also would limit stockpiles of material that could be developed into nuclear weapons and subject Iran’s nuclear facilities to inspection, as described by the Washington Post. The agreement likely would last 10-15 years, and a March 24 deadline has been set for establishing the framework of a final accord.

Not “a single nuclear facility” would be demolished under the agreement, Netanyahu said, and Iran could amass a “full arsenal” of nuclear weapons legitimately after the accord expires. He urged legislators to press for a “much better deal” that would:

— Further restrict Iran’s ability to produce nuclear weapons.

— Maintain restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program until it ceases aggression toward Israel and other neighbor states.

— Demand that Iran stop supporting terrorism around the world.

America must secure a “better deal that Israel and its neighbors may not like, but with which we could live — literally,” Netanyahu said.

President Obama, who did not watch the speech but reviewed a transcript, said Netanyahu’s demands are unrealistic and would cause Iran to walk away from negotiations with an unchecked nuclear program, the New York Times reported. A senior administration official told the Times that Netanyahu is inconsistent to insist that Iran change yet simultaneously portray its government as unchanging.

<b>Evangelical reaction</b>

Evangelical commentators said Netanyahu’s comparison of modern Iran with Haman of the Old Testament was appropriate.

Jim Sibley, a professor of biblical studies at Israel College of the Bible in Netanya, Israel, called the timing of Netanyahu’s speech “remarkable.”

“The day following Netanyahu’s address to Congress marks the beginning of the Feast of Purim, which celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from an Iranian anti-Semitic plot to exterminate them. At that time, God raised up Esther, who was willing to breach protocol in order to plead for their deliverance,” Sibley told Baptist Press in written comments.

“Iran and others who turn against Israel have fallen under the curse of Genesis 12:3 and may well be paving the way for the great end-times enemy of Israel and God,” Sibley said. In Genesis 12:3, God promised to bless those who bless Abraham’s descendants and curse those who curse them.

Sibley added, “God is dealing with the Jewish people on the stage of current events, drawing them back from the four corners of the earth to the land of Israel. This, together with the rapidly growing number of Jewish believers in Yeshua [Jesus], increasingly amplifies the cognitive dissonance inherent within any view that claims that Israel no longer occupies a unique role in God’s purposes.”

Mitch Glaser, a Jewish follower of Jesus and president of Chosen People Ministries in New York City, agreed that Netanyahu’s citation of Esther was appropriate.

“The story of Esther provides a very obvious and powerful parallel for the modern Hamans of Iran who are incessantly trying to destroy Israel through arming Hezbollah, Gaza and others seeking the destruction of Israel,” Glaser told BP in written comments. “The prime minister pointed out the blatancy of the religious leadership of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei.”

<b>Israel & ancient Persia</b>

Not all of the Persian Empire’s Old Testament dealings with Israel were as destructive as those recounted in Esther. The Persian king Cyrus defeated Babylon in 539 B.C. and allowed Jews to return to the Promised Land and rebuild the Temple (Ezra 1:1-4). After a break in construction, Jews completed the Temple under the Persian monarch Darius I, with Darius funding the project, protecting the builders and donating animals and other materials for Temple sacrifices (Ezra 6:6-12).

Daniel began his ministry under Babylonian rule, but it continued under the Persians. He prophesied their rise to power (Daniel 5:1-31), and King Darius placed him in a significant position of authority within the Persian Empire (Daniel 6:1-3). Although Daniel was cast into the lions’ den when he prayed to God rather than the Persian king, Darius announced upon Daniel’s miraculous rescue, “I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel” (Daniel 6:26). Later, the Persian king Artaxerxes allowed his Jewish adviser Nehemiah to lead an effort to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls, guaranteeing Nehemiah’s safe passage to Judah and providing timber for the project (Nehemiah 2:1-8).

At the height of its influence, the Persian Empire stretched from Egypt in the south to southern Russia in the north, from Greece in the west to India in the east. The empire fell to Alexander the Great and the Greeks in 334 B.C. However, Persian influence continued in the New Testament, as when Jesus told the repentant thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43), using a word for heaven derived from the Persian term for “park.”

Relations between Jews and Persians became more strained in the seventh century A.D., when Muhammad founded Islam and Muslims conquered the region inhabited by Persians. Because most Jews did not accept Islam, Muhammad grew hostile toward them, beheading at least 600 in Medina in 627 and executing others elsewhere, according to a classic Muhammad biography published in English as “The Life of Muhammad.”

<b>Israel & contemporary jihad</b>

Netanyahu told Congress that contemporary Iranian aggression is a continuation of Islamist jihad. The main difference between ISIS and the Iranian regime, he said, “is that ISIS is armed with butcher knives, captured weapons and YouTube, whereas Iran could soon be armed with ballistic missiles and nuclear bombs.”

Fred Fleitz, senior vice president for policy and programs at the Center for Security Policy in Washington, agreed with Netanyahu’s reservations about the nuclear accord being considered by the U.S. and Iran. Fleitz told BP the deal is a “giveaway.”

“Iran is a radical Islamic state,” Fleitz said. “It is pushing Islamic supremacism. It is trying to push its brand of Shia Islam around the world, and it sees the United States and Israel as enemies.”

Some in Iran, like past president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Fleitz said, believe that a messianic figure known as the “12th Imam” is alive today and will reveal himself at the end of time. Known as “Twelvers,” those who hold this belief think the 12th Imam’s return will be precipitated by a series of cataclysmic events that presumably could include nuclear war.

Although Iran claims its nuclear program is peaceful, Fleitz said there is “no conceivable way” the nation’s uranium enrichment activities are merely to produce nuclear power. There is “every possibility” Iran is lying in nuclear negotiations because it has violated past agreements multiple times.

“We should be trying to work cooperatively with Iran, but the price the Obama administration is trying to pay to get a deal is simply too high,” Fleitz said.

The U.S. demanded in the past that Iran give up centrifuges and plutonium reactors and answer questions about its military activities, Fleitz said. But America has wrongly conceded those demands in recent negotiations.

An acceptable deal would be to sell Iran discounted nuclear fuel rods to power its nuclear energy program and convert the nation’s enriched uranium stockpile into fuel rods. In exchange, Iran would abandon its uranium enrichment capability, Fleitz said.

That recommendation aligns with the views of Netanyahu, who contrasted the U.S. Constitution’s celebration of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” with the Iranian regime’s celebration of “death, tyranny and the pursuit of jihad.”

Netanyahu closed his address by applying Moses’ words in Deuteronomy 31:6 to Israel and America’s relations with Iran.

“Be strong and resolute,” Netanyahu said. “Neither fear nor dread them.”
The original story can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/44328/netanyahu-irans-threats-parallel-ot-esther-story

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